Vision Therapy Blog

It's the second edition of the Advanced Vision Therapy / Strasburg Family Eyecare Mailbag, and we have two great questions submitted to our mailbag that we'll be answering. This series is YOUR opportunity to ask Dr. Rob Lauver and the Advanced Vision Therapy team whatever is on your mind related to you or your child's eyes, brain, etc. To submit your questions for the next edition of the mailbag, follow the instructions on this blog post.

With that, here are the questions.

Q: Could my child pass a school vision screening but still have a vision problem? Could that explain why my child is in reading support?

Yes! School and pediatrician eye screenings usually only evaluate one skill: distance vision. However, near vision is the predominant type of vision children use in learning. In fact, a recent report suggests that nearly one in four school-aged children have an undiagnosed vision problem that interferes with reading and learning. The American Optometric Association recommends routine eye exams beginning at age six months, and yearly thereafter. If your bright child loses their place when reading, has trouble with reading comprehension, or struggles to complete homework, a vision problem could be to blame. It is also important to mention that there are two types of eye exams: Routine eye exams check distance and near vision as well as eye health. Developmental eye exams check all 17 visual skills, including eye tracking, teaming, and alignment. These specialty exams are performed by specially trained optometrists. To find out if one might be helpful for you, try our self quiz on quality of life.

Pictured: Sean Bell, a recent graduate of vision therapy who improved across all subject areas at school ... much to his mom's delight!

Q: Does insurance cover vision therapy?

A: Yes and no. Vision insurance does not pay for vision therapy. However, depending on the diagnosis, most major health insurance providers do cover at least a majority of therapy. It is important to check with your insurance company specifically to find out if you will be covered.

Have a question we didn't answer?

This mailbag is a monthly feature of the vision therapy blog, and we will do our best to answer every question that is submitted. Use the contact form on this post to submit your question related to vision, vision therapy, eye care, learning, or anything you can think of!

If you missed our July post, you can find it right here. We answered questions about screen time, bifocals, and autism.

About Advanced Vision Therapy

Advanced Vision Therapy is a practice located in Strasburg, PA, that is closely associated with Strasburg Family Eyecare. Accredited by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Advanced Vision Therapy has been a leader in vision therapy for over a decade and sees better results than nearly any practice in the area. Check out some of our success stories and contact us for more information.